A former West Midlands police officer who was injured while making an arrest in Birmingham city centre is seeking compensation against the force for disability discrimination.

Richard Gardner, who was a police officer for 12 years, said he injured both his knees and his back as he fell on the pavement in Broad Street when making the arrest.

He said the man he apprehended was later convicted, but that he needed several operations on his knees and was off work for months.

He told Birmingham Employment Tribunal he made several attempts to return to the beat, but eventually resigned because West Midlands Police did not make adjustments to help him work as a disabled person.

Mr Gardner said the police deliberately deferred decisions about his medical condition.

“I was accused of not telling the truth about my injuries and attempts were made to get me back to work although I was totally unfit,” he said.

“I believe there was a manipulation by the police and the medical process in assessing my condition.”

Tribunal Judge Pam Hughes said: “That’s a serious allegation.”

Mr Gardner said he believed the police should have found him non-confrontational police work in view of his disability and reduced his hours. He said he could have even worked from home. The West Midlands police are opposing his disability discrimination claim.

Mr Dijen Basu, representing the police, denied the allegations and said Mr Gardner would not have been allowed to work from home anyway.

Mrs Hughes said a full tribunal hearing into Mr Gardner’s claim for disability discrimination would be heard near the end of the year.